Electric Coolant Pump Clamping for Defined Fit in Tight Pump Shafts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle cooling systems with plug-in electric coolant pumps face challenges with limited fixation, large radial space requirements, and undefined installation positions, which affect the pump's functionality and assembly ease.
Innovation Solution
A motor vehicle cooling system with a clamping device featuring at least two clamping arms that are supported on wedge-shaped projections of the motor housing, allowing for a defined installation position and reduced radial space requirement, while providing a simple assembly process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If clamps in conjunction with an elastomer ring are used to fix the pump in the housing, then the pump can be mounted, but the radial space requirement is large and the position is not well defined
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping arms are designed as elastic elements that can be inserted in a relaxed state and then expand to clamp the pump shaft. This dynamic transformation from compact insertion state to expanded clamping state reduces the required radial space during assembly while maintaining secure fixation.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping device is divided into multiple independent clamping arms that can be inserted separately through the pump shaft. This segmentation allows each arm to be positioned and clamped independently, simplifying the assembly process and reducing the overall radial space requirement compared to a single large clamp.
2Ease of operation
If clamps in conjunction with an elastomer ring are used to fix the pump, then the pump can be mounted, but no defined position can be set and the fastening is only limited
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic clamping arms automatically adjust and lock onto the pump shaft through their own elastic deformation. When inserted, they expand and clamp onto the shaft, self-positioning without requiring external alignment tools or complex positioning mechanisms, thus achieving both ease of assembly and defined position.
3Reliability
If the pump is fixed with clamps and elastomer ring, then mounting is possible, but the fastening has large radial space requirement
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic clamping arms transform from a compact state during insertion to an expanded state during operation. This dynamic behavior allows the device to achieve secure fixation with high clamping force while requiring minimal radial space only during the assembly phase, not during normal operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables easy assembly with a defined installation position and reduced radial space requirement, ensuring secure fixation of the coolant pump and improved functionality within the cooling system.
Implementation Method 1
wedge-shaped projections are provided on a peripheral surface of the motor housing. Each of the at least two clamping arms is supported on one of the projections, and the height of the projections increases longitudinally downwardly from the peripheral surface such that when the clamping device is mounted on the top of the motor housing, the clamping arms slide on the wedge-shaped projections and spread outwardly
Implementation Method 2
the clamping arms being positioned with their free ends against an inner side of the pump shaft (preferably digging in to form a frictional connection) and clamping the electric coolant pump to the housing
Data Source
AI summary
A motor vehicle cooling system with an electric coolant pump includes a housing with a pump shaft. The electric coolant pump includes an electric motor in a motor housing. The electric coolant pump is at least partially accommodated in the pump shaft. A clamping device including at least two clamping arms is attached to an upper side of the motor housing. The clamping arms are supported with free ends thereof on an inner side of the pump shaft to clamp the electric coolant pump to the housing.